Connectors are line-like shapes found, not surprisingly within the Lines category of the Shapes gallery in PowerPoint 2010, as shown in Figure 1. These connectors create a link (or join) between shapes or any other slide objects to create a relationship. these connectors are linked to slide objects, they move automatically when the linked objects are moved. That's the reason why they are called "Smart connectors" -- you'll learn more about all the other smart things these connectors do in subsequent tutorials of this series.

Although connectors look like conventional, simple lines, there is a fundamental difference because unlike simple lines, connectors "connect" two shapes or any other slide objects to each other. Move any of the slide objects"connected" to the connector, and the connecter resizes and repositions automatically. So which of the variants in the Lines category of the Shapes gallery (see Figure 1 above) are connectors? All variants except the last three can act as both simple lines or connectors -- how they act depends upon how you place or draw them.

Tip: If you want a line to act as a connector, you'll have to first insert / draw the shapes or other slide objects -- then add the connectors that link between them. Remember that you cannot add a slide object to an existing connector -- rather you can only add a connector to an existing slide object.

Figure 2 shows a connector sample that was created using just rectangles and lines (that act as connectors).

Figure 2: Sample diagram using closed shapes and connectors

Learn more about the types of connectors, and how you can draw them in subsequent tutorials.

Have your ever used keyboard shortcuts and sequences in PowerPoint? Or are you a complete keyboard aficionado? Do you want to learn about some new shortcuts? Or do you want to know if your favorite keyboard shortcuts are documented?